"Cut Off" כרת-karet

In the process of establishing a holy nation, G-d chose Abraham and then gave him the command to circumcise himself and his entire household as a physical sign of being set apart as a holy people unto G-d. In fact so serious was this commandment that G-d uttered the following warning to Moses should anyone dare to transgress this decree.

“And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”–Genesis 17:14

The Hebrew word used for “cut off” is karet. However, it does not mean to literally “cut”, like cutting a piece of paper with a pair of scissors or making an incision during a surgery operation. Different Hebrew words are used for that such as natach, or gazith, or batar, or milah. Actually, the Hebrew word for circumcision is Brit Milah. Karet specifically refers to a complete and unalterable separation from G-d as punishment for tremendous disobedience to G-d’s commandments.

However, interestingly, there is a part of Scripture that seems to contradict what I just said. In the following verses from Exodus, the word Karet is actually used to refer to the removal of the foreskin in a circumcision.

“And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the LORD met Moses and sought to kill him. Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision.”–Exodus 4:24-26

These verses follow on the heels of the burning bush incident where Moses has just been commissioned by G-d to go the Pharaoh of Egypt and order that he let the Israelite slaves go. Along the way, G-d confronts Moses and threatens to end his life unless he follows through with the divine commandment of circumcision. Moses wife skillfully intervenes by handling the circumcision herself and thus Moses is saved from a premature death. For there is no way G-d is going to allow his chosen leader of the Israelites to preside over an uncircumcised household.

This unique usage of the word karet in this context has been a head scratcher for many a rabbi. Why is Karet used instead of Milah? I believe there are two reasons. The first is by using karet in this context, proper emphasis is given to the importance of the circumcision command. If a male member of G-d’s household refuses to have his foreskin cut off, he himself will be cut off.

However, the second reason is more established in sound theological principles. The idea is that before one can be considered a redeemed person in G-d’s eyes, the sinful part of the body must be cut off and experience death. Hence, we have the expression of “dying to one’s flesh”. In other words, either our fleshly sin nature is “cut off” or we will be “cut off”. It is one or the other.

Now who in the flesh was “karet”, so that we wouldn’t be karet from G-d for all eternity? Of course the answer is Jesus. During those agonizing moments on the cross when he was cut off from the Father and punished for our sins, Jesus cried out, “My L-rd, my L-rd, why have you forsaken me?”

L-rd, no matter how bad we stumble and mess up in our lives, we earnestly pray that You will give us the power and persistence to stay in Your will and kindness so that we will not be cut off.

“Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be karet.” –Romans 11:22

Amen